Arizona State Route 238
State Route 238, also known as SR 238, is an east–west state highway in central Arizona.
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SR 238 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by ADOT | ||||
| Length | 20.27 mi[1] (32.62 km) | |||
| Existed | 1986–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end | Maricopa Road near Mobile, Arizona | |||
| East end |  SR 347 in Maricopa | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties | Maricopa, Pinal | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Route description
While the mile markers indicate a start in Gila Bend, the highway is not actually part of the State Highway System until 11 miles (17.70 km) west of the Maricopa/Pinal County line near Mobile, at Mile Marker 24. The road west of this point is actually a county route. This stretch of road is known as Maricopa Road (except for a brief portion signed as Smith Enke Road within the town of Maricopa) and serves as a direct route between the two towns as well as an access road for the Sonoran Desert National Monument. It was originally a dirt road from Gila Bend to Maricopa, it was upgraded to a state highway to serve a proposed hazardous waste management facility west of Mobile. The official State Highway map shows this road terminating at Maricopa at the junction with State Route 347. Since its upgrade to a paved highway, this road has become a common shortcut for residents of the southern part of the Phoenix Metro Area travelling to Yuma and San Diego.
Some road maps show a continuation of the route eastbound; after briefly overlapping a short southbound stretch of State Route 347 (also, confusingly, known as Maricopa Road or the John Wayne Parkway), the highway beelines southeast to its eastern terminus at Casa Grande; this stretch of the highway is known as the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. According to ADOT, this section of road is not currently commissioned .
Virtually the entire road follows the Southern Pacific Railroad line, with brief detours at the Maricopa and Casa Grande townsites.
Junction list
The highway begins on Maricopa Road, MP 24.
| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa | | 24.00 | 38.62 | Maricopa Road west to SR 85 – Gila Bend | Continuation beyond western terminus |
| Mobile |    Loop 303 (Estrella Freeway) to I-8 / I-10 | Planned interchange | |||
| Pinal | Maricopa | 44.25 | 71.21 | SR 347 (John Wayne Parkway) | Eastern terminus; road continues as Smith Enke Road |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- Arizona Department of Transportation. "2008 ADOT Highway Log" (PDF). Retrieved April 8, 2008.